St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds prediction and odds Wed. 8/31: Cards continue historic month

Yardbarker Quick Pick

St. Louis should have themselves a day today against Mike Minor (again). He allowed eight hits and five runs in July when he last saw the Cardinals, and it should be a similar result today. St. Louis is one of the top offenses when facing a lefty, and the weather is aiding homers and runs scored. Instead of the full-game total, let's just bet on the Cardinals to do their damage. We're betting St. Louis scores over 5.5 runs at -120. — Griffin Carroll, Yardbarker

MLB odds via OddsChecker: Click here for LIVE updates

6:40 p.m. ET
St. Louis Cardinals: -2 (-109) spread, -225 moneyline, over 9.5 (+100)
@ Cincinnati Reds: +2 (-112) spread, +195 moneyline, under 9.5 (-115)

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The Cardinals will send lefty Jose Quintana (4-6, 3.45 ERA) to the mound in the rubber match of the series. Last Friday against Atlanta, Quintana suffered his first loss with the Cardinals since coming over from the Pirates at the trade deadline. He allowed four runs (two earned) and seven hits over five innings against the Atlanta Braves.

In his only start this season against the Reds, on May 15 in Pittsburgh, Quintana fired seven scoreless innings in a no-decision.

The Reds will counter with fellow left-hander Mike Minor (3-10, 6.10), who will make his 16th start of the season.

In his last two starts, Minor is 2-0 with a 4.97 ERA, allowing seven runs on 15 hits over 12 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking none. In 10 starts between wins on June 13 at Arizona and Aug. 21 at Pittsburgh, Minor was 0-8 with a 6.02 ERA.

On July 23, in his only previous start this season against St. Louis, Minor was tagged for five runs and eight hits over four innings. Minor also surrendered two home runs and took the loss.

Right-hander Jack Flaherty (right shoulder strain) is slated to make one more minor league rehab start before returning on Sept. 5 for a start against the Washington Nationals.

Flaherty, the Cardinals' Opening Day starter in 2020 and 2021, has missed the first 2 1/2 months of this season with shoulder pain. He returned for three major league starts in mid-June, but went back on the injured list.

"He'll pitch again on Wednesday and then we'll insert him into the rotation after that," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. "He understood it. He's a competitor and obviously wants to be up here as soon as possible. He understood how it impacted everything else. He was good about it."

Reds manager David Bell said outfielder Albert Almora Jr. (right shoulder contusion) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. He went on the IL after a pair of spectacular diving catches Aug. 19 against the Pirates.

Injured Reds first baseman Joey Votto has started his rehab from major left shoulder and biceps surgery. Speaking for the first time since his surgery on Aug. 19, Votto said he wants to show he can still play at a high level.

"I'm not trying to prove anybody wrong. I want to perform well. I'm excited about that," Votto said. "I'd like to have a strong finish to my career and be proud."

Next season is the final guaranteed year of Votto's 10-year, $225 million contract with the Reds.

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